Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-24
COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

| GOOD CE-RE-ORGANIZATIoN - THE
| NEW MEMBERSHIP MOVABLE BALLOT PRE-
| FERRED AGAIN FOR CHOOSING CANDIDATES
| THE PLAN OF PROCEDURE.
| The call of Judge Hudson, the Chairman OF
| the County Democratic Committee, was re-
sponded to promptly by the members, the
| body assembling in the Supreme Court
| room on the morning OF the Goth instant. The
| time of service of the Committee appointed in
| 1885 having expired, the recent selections by
the party in the primary meetings returned
about an equal number of the old along with
| the new members, who in the main are young
| men, and the first meeting demonstrated that
the best feelings prevailed, and that the repre-
sentatives of the party in the county had as
sembled for the purpose of concentrating its
full strength and casting united vote in the
approaching election for members of the
House of Delegates.
Judge Hudson was made temporary Chair
man, and Mr.. B. B. Eskridge temporary secre-
tary. The Chairman stated briefly the first
work to be done.
Judge Hudson, the former Chairman, and
Mr.. Arista Hoge, the former Secretary, were
chosen again by unanimous vote to the re-
spective offices named.
The plan of procedure In selecting the candi-
dates then came up on the motion of Mr.. 3. b.
Eskridge, new member from Ward No. OF
the city, to adopt the plan of the last May can
vass-the movable ballot. Mr.. Roller, of Mid
die River, and Mr.. Hoover, new member
from the Pastures district, expressed oppo-
sition. The matter was then thoroughly dis
cussed by Messrs. Hartman, Roller, Hoover
Churchman, Pilson, McAleer, Gamble, GRAFT
tan, Patterson, Eskridge, and the Chairman.
Mr.. Roller offering a substitute for the motion
that candidates should be selected by q con-
vention of delegates elected by the city and
county districts. Mr. Eskridge sustained his
motion with earnestness. He discarded all
local questions or influences. 1t was suggested
by those opposed TO his motion that the nu-
merical vote in the county being SO much
larger. than that in the city it might result in
selecting both candidates from the county. and
in that event Staunton might not poll it's full
strength at the election. Mr.. Eskridge replied
that no uneasiness should be felt about the
vote of Staunton. 1t would be cast in unity
and in Its full strength for the candidates
chosen, though citizen of the city might not
be selected as one of the delegates to the Gen
eral Assembly. This was the plan to ascer-
tain the best men, and no matter whether they
came from the town or county the cholce OF
the party as expressed in the manner proposed,
was the real preference, and that all sections
and all interests would unite in ratifying the
verdict of the people. To these sentiments all
the members cordially responded. Mr.. Rol-
lers substitute was lost, and the original Of |
fered by Mr.. Eskridge adopted, and then the
plan in its details was considered and adopted. |
Following are the instructions to carry out |
the plan under which the voter will designate
the candidates for nomination preferred by |
him.
INSTRUCTIONS.
The Commissioner will visit every Demo- 1
cratic voter in his precinct If the voter /
should be absent from home the Commission
Any voter who will pledge himself that he
will support the ticket nominated SHAH ne en-
titled TO vote.
The Commissioner will not attempt TO In
luence any votes for any candidate, but will
hand to each voter copy OF his written in
structiOns. If asked by the voter to read his
Instructions, he shall do so, and no more.
The voter will scratch off the names of the
candidates he does not wish to vote for, and
may insert any name he wshes
The Commissioner will return to the mem
Der of the County Committee of his district, and
from whom he received them. all tickets not
Der in the ballot box, must agree with the num-
Der he received.
If ticket is spoiled, the Commissioner must
take up said ticket and give the voter another
and return the spoiled ticket to the member
of County Committee. II
Il, 4 4
with the tickets unused, to the member Of the
County Committee from whom he received
same on the End day of October, 1887.
All voters will have the right TO vote on and
until Oct. list, 1887, and on October LIST 1887 the
Commissioner will be required to remain at
his home to receive the ballots of all votes
not heretofore deposited by the voters. |
No Commissioner shall receive a ballot by
any one except the voters.
Each voter must vote for two persons
The Commissioner will keep in book for
the purpose, the names of all voters who vote,
Any voter will have the right, should he be
overlooked or not seen, to deposit his ballot in
the box at any time before Oct. End, by going to
W. A. HUDSON, Chairman.
ARtsTA HoGE, Secretary.
THO PLAN.
Resolved That to ascertain the W IL of the
people as to who shall represent them in the
House of Delegates for which we shall vote in
November, this Committee adopts the follow
Ing plan: That sealed ballOt.box shall be
carried to every Democratic voter in each dis
trict by commissioner appointed by the
of the committee from each district,
who are not candidates. Said commissioner
shall not IN any way be related to any candi-
date or connected wit i'm in business and,
who has previously been sworn not to in any
way influence the voter IN his choice of candi-
dates. but who shall present printed ticket
with the names of all the candidates for the
different offices thereon, and the voter after
he does not vote shall place his ballot in the
box. The boxes shall be returned to the chair
man OF the count committee, who snaii call a
meeting OF the committee excluding members
who arc candidates to canvass the vote found
in the boxes. and to declare those receiving the
highest number of votes for each Office the
choice of the party. no voter to be excluded
who will declare his intention 10 support the
nominee of the Democratic party.
This canvass is to begin on Sept. 18th, 1887,
and to be completed by and on Octs 1st 1887.
The tickets to reprinted on Sept. 10Th, 1887, and
to include the names OF ali candidates who are
willing TO abide the result of said election, and
who do pay their pro rata share OF the expenses
attending said elect ion to the chairman OF this
VIM. A, HUDSON. Chairman.
ARIsTA HoGE, Secretary